Govt will need time to restudy GST, says Xavier

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

KAJANG: Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar says the goods and services tax (GST) will not be brought back if the people are not in favour of it.

“If the people don’t want it, then so be it.

“If people think that it will bring benefits, can improve the standard of living and the government will have more money to spend for the people, then I have no issues with its reintroduction.

“It’s the people’s call,” he told reporters after opening the Centralised Sewage Treatment Plant at Kampung Sungai Balak.

Xavier, however, said the government will need time to study the GST model again and a decision can only be made after deliberating on the outcome of the findings.

“Give us some time to do the study, maybe after Budget 2020,” he said.

Earlier today, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government will consider reintroducing the GST if that is the peoples’ wish.

This follows calls by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) to bring back the GST, but at a lower rate of 3% instead of its original 6%. - FMT